Too much sitting for older women — even for those who regularly exercise — can lead to premature death, according to a new study.

Researchers tracked 93,000 post-menopausal women for at least 12 years. All were ages 50 to 79 when the study began and were part of the national Women’s Health Initiative Study.

Compared with women who had four hours or less of sitting a day, women who were sedentary more than 11 hours a day had a 12 percent higher risk of mortality for all causes; a 13 percent increase for cardiovascular disease; a 21 percent increase for cancer; and a 27 percent increase for coronary heart disease.

The findings were published online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

LEARN MORE: acsm.org, search “reducing sedentary behaviors”

SOURCE: Cornell University

DIGESTION

Probiotic keeps babies happy and well

A new clinical trial suggests that a daily probiotic may ease digestive upset in babies.

Italian researchers randomly assigned 468 infants less than a week old to receive a daily oral dose of Lactobacillus reuteri or an identical-tasting placebo. Parents recorded the daily frequency of bowel movements, spitting up and amount of time babies cried inconsolably. Investigators followed up with weekly phone calls or meetings. The study appears online in JAMA Pediatrics.

After one month, babies who got the probiotic showed a significant decrease in crying time and an increase in bowel movements compared with those who got the placebo. By three months, their frequency of spitting up was reduced, too.

Babies taking the probiotic had fewer emergency department visits and needed less medication for stomach problems.

LEARN MORE: nccam.nih.gov/health/probiotics/introduction.htm

The New York Times

FITNESS

The 5 best exercises

Want to get healthier? Here are five of the best exercises, according to Harvard Medical School.

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